Uploaded January 2009 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago

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Track 6. Title track from the album 'Hypocrisy Is The Greatest Luxury'

Written by M. Franti

Hiphoprisy is:
Michael Franti & Rono Tse

Musicians:
Michael Franti - Vocals
Rono Tse - Angle Grinder, Tire Rims, Chains, Break Drums, Electronic Springs, Sheet Metal & Steel Drums
Charlie Hunter - Introduction Vocals

Programming and Musical Arrangements by Mark Pistel & Michael Franti

Mixed by Jack Dangers, Mark Pistel

Engineered by Mark "Spliffler" Pistel, John Baker

Post production engineering by Jeff Mann

♪♫ Life these days can be so complex
We don't make the time to stop and reflect
I know from first hand experience one can go delirious
seriously it can be like that
But before I put my foot in my mouth
cause that's what I'm about to start talking about
Please let me confess before all the rest
that I'm afflicted by this addicted like most in the U.S.
It's tough to make a living when you're an artist
It's even tougher when you're socially conscious
Careerism, opportunism
can turn the politics into cartoonism
Let's not patronize or criticize
Let's open the door and look inside
Pull the file on this state of denial

[Chorus:]
Hypocrisy is the greatest luxury
Raise the double standard
[x3]

The bass, the treble
don't make a rebel
Having your life together does
AMERICA
has an image of a young one
fast living not give an expletive
no respect for his
or the lives of those around him
Suicidal, homicidal or at very least
extremely unbridled
How convenient for those
who would like to destroy him
The problem has never been our political logic
but the way we enact it
We can imagine a perfect society
but can't maintain a decent relationship
The failure found in the luxury, not in the hardship

[Chorus:]
Hipocrisy is the greatest luxury
Raise the double standard
[x3]

[Commentary: "The next section is devoted strictly to break science ; just sounds that we consider to be very exciting and worth listening to."]

[Chorus:]
Hipocrisy is the greatest luxury
Raise the double standard
[x7] ♪♫

Note: This album is dedicated to Tahan K. Jones, the first African-American conscientious objector from the Iraqi slaughter, and to all others who refused to kill or be killed in the name of the New World Order, and to the infamy of those who did and were.

~ [Many thanks to the copyright owners UMG for allowing this to be heard on YouTube] ~ ☺